Robin's Laker

GuinnesDraught · Post by **GuinnesDraught** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:08 am

Woowee Mick
what a lovely duo

I love your work mate....very classy and super finish...
you just make all of us want to build our own

hope you and robin will have many great times paddling these

Post by **jem** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:06 am

Mick,

You are becoming one talented builder.

So when do you put the poke-a-dots on Robin's boat?

Jimmy W · Post by **Jimmy W** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:34 pm

Those are some beautiful boats Mick. I might have to make one myself someday, but I think that the Southwind 15 will be my next.

sheena's dad · Post by **sheena's dad** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:07 pm

Mick, I didn't say so earlier but should have. Both boats are true beauties and taking your time with Robin's was a stroke of loving brilliance. Even with the purple paint job, it is a masterpiece.

Your pics are making me anxious to get started on the longer version Matt's gonna be drawing up.

Question for you and others who might know. I was playing with the idea of mahogany with maple decks. Well I found a source for some beautiful Bird's-eye Maple veneer. I have what I need to lam it to the ply, vaccuum bags and all. What do you think? A possibility?

Steve

hairymick · Post by **hairymick** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:13 am

Thanks guys, i tried my best on this one.

Dad, I have absolutely no idea re the laminating ply veneers sorry mate.

Robin and I put in with our local canoe club at the local lake today.

I will let the piccies tell the story.

Lots of room, and plenty stable

First strokes

c'mon! c'mon! lets go lets go!!

Really, the grin says more than I can put into words

The brown water is a result of recent monsoonal rains. the first we have had in years. Our dams and lakes are filling.

when the water clears, we wll have some new places in very skinny water to explore and tese boats are superb in this.

Tor · Post by **Tor** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:56 am

wow.

ok so we had a Christmas break but that only took 6 weeks?!

I say again, wow.

must have a look at some first time builds otherwise this could all seem too hard...

hairymick · Post by **hairymick** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:01 pm

G'day Tor, Thank you!

Mate, These boats are not hard to make. Don't be intimidated out of having a go! Once you make the start, all will fall into place. It is just one step at a time is all.

As I said to you back channel also don't be put off by the rediculously high prices you have been quoted by some for ply. I had the same problems when I first started. (Tor has been quoted over AUD $100,00 per sheet for marine ply) utter BS. This also happened to me when I first started.

Shop around mate. The retailers/hardware places will treat you like a mug if they can. Do you know that most of them work on a 300% mark-up?

If you still can't get quality marine ply at a reasonable price, ordinary interior ply is fine. You just need to be a little more careful with sheet selection and how you build is all. My laker is made out of interior grade ply that cost me the princely sum of about $11.00 a sheet. Even then, it was the stuff I had rejected for other builds. (voids, splits,de-laminations etc etc) Bunnings up here market the same stuff under the "luann" name but its trade name here is "blonde ply"

Exterior grade hardwood bracing ply is also very good for this caper only it is heavier. When I get the chance, I will PM you some details of some people who might be able to help you with supplies down your way.

Chalk · Post by **Chalk** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:38 pm

Sorry....I must of got click happy

Chalk · Post by **Chalk** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:04 pm

Mick,

She's nice looking and the boat is nice to

...Seriously the boat looks good, looks like it has plenty of freeboard...Nice build